Cross-linking xanthan and other compounds with glycerol

In a waterless or near-waterless environment glycerol's hydroxyl groups react with xanthan's functional groups to make glycerol cross-linked xanthan (GCX) since not enough water is present to inhibit glycerol-xanthan reactions. The water, formed during cross-linking, in fact catalyzes the unwinding of xanthan's double-helix thus making functional groups of its side chains and of its backbone more accessible for cross-linking. Functional groups...